The first time I met the Ghandours was at their eldest’s newborn portraits in their condominium home in Hastings. A few years later, we reconnected for family photos when their middle man came into the world. We met up last fall to take some fun family mini portraits. Now, they have welcomed baby Layla, and it was fun to be welcomed into their new home here in Cottage Grove.

This is a special one for us! Erin has been an amazing friend for a very long time and at one point was a youth group student under Mark when we first came to our church, Hope Community Church in Cottage Grove. We have watched her grow up, we have seen her go off to college and come back to find a job, and we have prayed with her for her future hopes and dreams.

And just like that it is spring! And we are back! It has been a very wintry winter, but just like the adorable light purple flowers popping through the dirt that the kids had fun looking at during their family maternity photos at Leduc Estates, there is new life on the horizon. And it is not just for creation, but also for this special family in soon becoming a family of seven.

Whether it’s “I’m dreaming of a White Christmas…” or “Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow,” it looks like we might just get our wish this year as I overlook the fresh snow clinging on to the branches of the trees with the freshly rising sun making it sparkle in the new day’s light. There is something beautiful about this time of year, something special about the world being covered in snow, something refreshing about the deafening of the regular noise that a new snow brings. It’s partly why I love Minnesota so much. The idea of not regularly getting to experience the slowdown of the snow season and soak up the warm cuddles, hot cocoa, and wonder of a fresh snow? No, thank you. I think the Hobbs share this sentiment, which is why they requested some family portraits taken in the fun of the snow.

It's officially that time of the year, where extended family all around gather to be near! It was so fun to take a walk outdoors with the Hawkes extended family to document the specialness of this stage of their relationships in family photos. My favorite moment of the shoot was when I asked if we should do a photo of the "originals" — they had a good laugh about it, but it is true. I absolutely love seeing how families have expanded throughout the years, but there's also something special about seeing the original family that started and then being able to compare that to the wonderful families that have grown and continue to change from it. So, in true fashion, I have the extended family photo at the top of this blog post and you'll have to scroll to the very end to find the originals — you're welcome!